The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1887-11-23

"FATHER, GIVE US YOUR BLESSING. )"
large for the dear old lady as Mr..
| Crary's clothes were too small for her
husband, but she had tried to be thank
full.
"Aud how many old clothes have
you worked off on grandma said
Mrs. Hammond, turning to Marian,
who was turning diamond ring to
catch the sunlight.
WELL rs TO that" laughed Marian,
II don't remember of dispensing of any
in that way. | sell my old clothes TO
the statuette peddIer-"
..And how much did you pay mother
for taking care of you last spring when
YOU were sickpr Mrs. Hammond was
getting thoroughly Disguised and a
trifle sharp.
"Why. l gave her five-dofiar bill, =
replied Marian, flushing .'Onesdoesn' t
expect to pay ones relation for every
little kindness of that sort.
"Yet you could not have hired a
nurse to do what she did for cent less
than twenty-five dollars said Mrs.
Hammond, significantly.
1t is needless to follow all the steps
by which Mrs. Hammond prevailed
upon her stylish sisters to give a
grudging consent to establish BIRTH
day-box for the benefit of the old
couple. 1t was through fear of what
..they' would say of them which first
influenced them, but as they talked a
! real glow of filial feeling came to them,
| and they consented. "if Harrison
would do his share" to give the old
people a Thanksgiving feast worthy of
| the name, even to the exclusion of the
Judge Macomber dinner, and Mrs.
Crary, in the exuberance OF her newly
awakened generosity, offered Mrs.
Hammond her pony and basket phaeton
in which to drive out to Harrison
OF course, the son who could do
what Harrison Roadway had done,
could not be generous, whole-souied
man. but, fortunately his wife had
the qualities he lacked; she had never
approved Of his taking the farm, and
had sincerely grieved over his broken
promise to the old people, and she
was, therefore, an earnest and iBhneh-
| tial helper. "I'll invite them all beSo
for Thanksgiving, she said, cordially
+" and I'll see each one of the family;
they shall, every one, bring some
thing, and father and mother shall
have one pleasant Thanksgiving, If
they never do another
'.There is every reason to fear that
they can not have many more on
EARTH" said Mrs. Hammond, wiping
away the tears of pleasure which
would keep coming; she had not
looked for such hearty cooperation.
1t was wonderful Thanksgiving
feast, fully fifty people being present
10 partake of it, and the old people
were so overcome with joy, when they
were led to the great table, piled high
with groceries. clothing, and other
comforts, that they could only shed
tears of surprise and pleasure.
| Marthyn said the old man, as
they tottered away toward the long
l tIDltS, Stb Will tNti .
| delicacy. II told We the Lord I'D
roll up silver lining, and here lie
has softened our children's hearts, an
taken us out of the hand of charity"
At the end of the feast, John Ham
| mond said, reyerently: 9 Father.
! give us your blessing before we part, :"
| and the old man, now in the ninetieth
! year of his age, arose, and, leaning on
| his staff, invoked Gods blessing on his
family, in tones of trembling thank
| fulness. which were never forgotten
1t was the last time they were all
| together, for, rs the winters cold
\ came, the old father sickencd and
4 died, cared for, not by the town au-
\ thorities, but by his own children. and
the poor, lonely old mother, though
now comfortably established in the
chimney corner at Harrison's, gradu-
ally pined and faded, until she, too.
passed away, and together they spent
their next Thanksgiving, lover the
Hills, in the mansion prepared for
i them by the father whom they loved.
I Mrs +. M. HOWARD.
h